High-level negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States resumed on Saturday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement in the ongoing conflict. The talks, held in a trilateral format, are the first of their kind since the war began in February 2022.

The discussions concluded their first day on Friday without any official public statements. However, sources indicate the dialogue remains active. "Nobody is walking away from the table," a person familiar with the matter told Russia's TASS news agency. A separate White House official characterized the discussions to NBC News as "productive."

The Russian delegation, led by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the GRU military intelligence agency, is reportedly focusing on security matters. Before the meeting, Ushakov reiterated Moscow's stance, stating, "We remain interested in resolving the Ukrainian crisis by political and diplomatic means. However, if it does not happen, Russia will continue accomplishing its goals on the battlefield where Russian troops have the initiative."

A central and persistent obstacle to any potential peace deal is the territorial dispute. Moscow demands that Ukraine recognize Russia's sovereignty over the territories it has annexed—including Crimea and four other Ukrainian regions—and withdraw its troops from those areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently ruled out such concessions.

The talks occur against a backdrop of failed previous initiatives. Last year, a 28-point peace roadmap proposed by former US President Donald Trump, which reportedly involved Ukraine ceding territory, was rejected by Kyiv and European allies as overly favorable to Moscow. Russia has accused the European Union of attempting to sabotage negotiations to prolong the conflict.